The Fr esher s' Guide t o Fir st Year
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1 Med Soc Present s...
Wel come t o Univer sit y of Bir mingham Medical Societ y!!
MedSoc has a lot to offer its 3000+ members, froman annual Ball held at the ICC arena, to extensive sporting opportunities, to charities and societies that take their members all over the globe - not to mention the jam-packed entertainment calendar and revision sessions put on every year. BirminghamMedSoc truly adds a lot to any Health Science Student?s time at the University!
Central to BirminghamMedSoc is the ethos of inclusivity. All students at the College of Medical and Dental Sciences are encouraged to join. Fromthose studying Biomedical Science to Dentistry,drinkers or non-drinkers, academics or sportspeople, indeed any student at the College is welcome!
With over 80 societies, sports clubs and charities, Birmingham MedSoc is the biggest (and we like to think best) in the UK! We are an independent, non-profit organisation run by students, for students.
birminghammedsoc.co.uk Birmingham Med Soc
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@bhammedsoc
What's not to like?? Come and join us so you never miss out!!
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4 Introduction..................................6 A Message fromyour VPA.............7 Our tips for your uni studies........8 How to tackle different teaching methods........................................................12 Advice on making notes...............13 Student services+library..................16 Where to study.....................................17 A message fromthe international rep..................................................................18 Introduicing AFRs................................19 Useful instagrampages...............20 Useful facebook pages .............21 Medicine - Structure and teaching..22 - Modules.....................................23 - Placement (CBM).................24 - Exams...........................................28 - Useful Resources.................29 - Meet the AFRs ...................32 - Top tips for anatomy.... 33 M Groups...............................35 Graduate Entry Medicine - What to Expect....................36 - Modules&Resources..........37 Cont ent s: Biomedical Science - What to Expect....................38 - Modules and Teaching..39 - Books...........................................40 Essential Advice................41 - Meet your AFRs................42 Pharmacy - What to Expect...................43 - Modules...................................44 - Books..........................................45 - Essential Advice..................46 Meet your AFRs ................47 Dentistry What to Expect...................48 - Essential Advice..................49 Nursing - What to Expect...................50 - Modules..................................51 - Credit System.......................52 - Essential Advice..................53 Meet your AFRs.....................54 Physiotherapy What to Expect...................55 - Modules...................................56 - Reading list...;.......................57 - Essential Advice..................58
TIP Do not bypass the Health and Wellbeing section. vital that you are aware of wellbeing issues and that you know who to go to if you need help with
anything.. How to use this guide: You do not have to read through everything in here. It is not a strict guide and should not be followed word for word. It has been designed purely to give you simple tips about getting through the first year. Click on these symbols to take you to a web link: Click on these symbols to take you to a page link in the Guide: TIP - make sure you lookout for these tip boxes dotted throughout for extra bitsof advice
5 Extra Academic Info.............59 Living In Birmingham - Food - Catered...................60 - Self-Catered........................61 - Where to shop .....................62 . - What if I'mIll?..........................63 Work Hard Play Hard.................64 - Restaurants..............................64 - Cafes, bars&pubs.................65 - Getting outdoors...................66 Health and Wellbeing..................67 Support Services...........................68 Most Useful Tip...........................69
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It's
to know,but it
advice!
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I r oduct ion
nt
I'msure that you're being inundated with information about uni life but hopefully this guide will bring to light the realities of being part of BirminghamMedical School.
Whether you're a student doctor, biomedical scientist, nurse, physiotherapist or PA, this book will guide you through the 'do's and don't's' and ups and downs of Medical School life.
This book has been written and produced by BirminghamMedical School students and includes advice based on first hand experience. So, to save you the trouble of taking a year to figure out what on earth is going on here, have a read and prepare yourself for need doeshave very useful
some
the best times of your life... PLEASE REMEMBER: ThisGuide isNOT a definitive one. It doesNOT contain everything you
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A war m wel come f r om your vice pr esident academic Gr ace
Med Soc love, Gr a c e :) x
University really is what you make of it and the earlier you find your feet, the more fun you'll have Read through the booklet and familiarise yourself with your course, take on the tips fromother students, get excited about placements, but PLEASE also look at our notes on well being, find out what fun events are on during freshers' week and check out all our amazing societies!
Hi freshers!! I'mGrace, I'ma 4th year intercalating medic and the Vice President Academic of Med Soc. Basically,my role puts me in charge of arranging all of med soc's student led revision sessions, putting together resources like these, co ordingating your freshers' academic reps and generally just being your all round agony aunt when it comes to any academic issues!
Med Soc is extremely friendly and we really hope we make you feel at home here at BirminghamMed School. You'll see me and the academic reps around during freshers' week and at the drop in sessions at the start of October... Our job is literally to help you guys adjust to life at med school, so don't you dare be shy,come and say hi (I'm a poet and i didn't know it lol)
I've been here at Birminghamfor 3 years now and feel like I've got a good grasp of how best to work, who to turn to with problems and generally just how to get the most out of medical school! I'mreally passionate about supporting younger students and amALWAYShappy to have a chat with anyone who has questions or wants advice!
I'mso excited for you all as you start your new courses and look forward to getting to know you over the coming year!
#1 : Learning Objectives
our top t ips for your uni st udies
# 2: Study Space
Each module has a set of core learning objectives, which explain what you need to learn. There can usually be accessed via Canvas. Although they aren't comprehensive lists, it gives you a great overview of what's coming up and can be used when deciding how to organise and structure your notes and revision. I found downloading themas using themas tick list a great way to make sure I didn't miss anything in my revision!
Working and learning at university is a completely different experience to school and sixth formand it can often seem overwhelming! But fear not, med soc are here! We're going to be talking through some of the useful things we did to make learning at uni a bit easier and more efficient!
Separate your 'study space' fromyour 'living space'... trying to work in your bedroomwhere there are a number of distractions (your warm and comfy bed!) is almost impossible. Having designated areas to work can help you focus and ensure you are being most efficient with your study time. There are many libraries and cafes on campus (check out the link below), so explore and find a couple of spots you like. Mixing it up once a while also helps to increase motivation for studying! If you do have to work in your room, try facing away fromyour bed and making sure your desk is tidy and a productive working environment
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Top Tip, creating a 'study space' can be as simple as clearing the desk in your roomof all distractions and turning off your phone. Apps such as Forest are great ways of encouraging you to keep off your phone!
- And more!!
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- Reviewing lectures & making notes fromthem Completing sheets (prep work) for SGTs/ Anatomy sessions
- Reviewing information (after SGTs/Anatomy) - a great practice to ensure you've understood everything that was discussed
However, your timetable doesn't need to be set in stone - once you have more experience with how long certain tasks take, you can always alter your timetable. Review your timetable regularly... is there anything you need to change to make your learning more efficient?
Health related courses tend to have more contact hours than a lot of other uni courses, meaning you'll be spending quite a lot of time in med school. Not every hour will be full, you'll often have 1-2 hour breaks at different points during the day - so use these well!
TOP TIP: With any type of prep work e g anatomy sheets, allocate a certain time limit to complete these (usually 1-1 5 hrs is recommended). If that time has passed, MOVE ON. You can't (and aren't expected to) spend endless hours on a single sheet. It's okay to not understand things straight away - usually it all makes much more sense after you discuss it with the facilitator and your peers!
Assign a certain period of time each day for studying and then stick to your schedule! Look at your timetable for the week and plan which hours you want to use to catch up on lectures, go over content or do prep work. Make sure you leave yourself at least an hour for lunch though!! Consistency is key to building up good habits fromthe start.
# 4: What could your study sessions include?
# 3 : Make a timetable or study plan.
- Buffer sessions : Set a couple of buffer sessions during the week to catch up on work you may have fallen behind on.
Use module discussion boards (you may find that someone else has already asked a similar question!)
The easiest way to remain motivated when studying is to ensure you take enough time away fromwork, in a different setting, to refresh your mind.
- Email a module lead/lecturer (all their contact details will be on Canvas)
Take regular breaks - go on a walk, to the gym, meet up with friends - anything that involves time away fromyour laptop!
Having the opportunity to watch recordings of lectures, which can be paused and re winded, it can be tempting to go back to themafter every lecture and try to write down everything the lecturer says. Don't fall into this trap - it will just make your notes too long, complicated and overwhelming!!
# 7: Ask for help
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Concise, one-page summaries are perfect starting point - you can always add more detail later if you need to! Look out for note taking tips coming up later in the booklet
Annotating slides as you go and making summaries it in your own words can be much more effective than copying word for word! Use alternative sources of information to clarify any doubts, and make the notes personal and easy to understand for you.
TOP TIP: If you do find yourself struggling with motivation or arefeeling overwhelmed, don't hesitateto contact Student Services!Theyhaveexperienced staff who can offer you one-to-oneadvice.
If you are stuck on something, ask! No one will think any less of you and often all you need is an alternative perspective/method of explaining.
# 6: Take lots of breaks
You could: - Ask your peers/friends through FB/WhatsApp group chats
Always listen to your body - if you are constantly feel tired or like you can? t focus, you might be burnt out. Recognising this and acting on it early is most important.
# 5: Less is More
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- Don't just try to write down everything the lecturer says. It will (most likely) be recorded so you can go over it if you miss anything.
Unlike Secondary School, at university you have much greater responsibility for your learning making sure you understand everything, or you are seeking help when necessary You have to be proactive and put in a little extra effort and time before and after each session to ensure you stay on top of things.
1. Read the associated lecture material before completing the sheet.
5. Non-facilitator sessions- If you have any questionsfromthese sessions, post themon the module'sDiscussion Boards.
- Review any previous lectures on the same topic to refresh your memory.
After:
4 Note down any specific questions that arise as you are going through the sheet so you don't forget to ask themto the facilitator during the session.
How to Tackl e...
- Make sure you have a copy of the lecture slides either printed out or downloaded on your laptop.
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During:
Most importantly LISTEN and make sure you can FOLLOW what is going on The lecturer may be using extra images/ props to assist their explanations.
Review and fill in any gaps, things that you missed/didn't quite understand. Use a range of sources - books, videos etc to do this, as they may offer extra information or a different perspective that could help you.
Make your notes in a format that will be easy to revise from...more tips on that next!
TIP: Remember that questions you have answered for SGTs(and SDLs) arefair gamefor examination. Makesure to revise theseso you don't get caught out!Lect ur es
TIP: Sometimeslecturerscan add in extra interestinginformation that you don't actually need to learn (yet) - so payattention!
Before:
2. Try to do each sheet at least the weekend before the session and review it the day before to refresh your memory. Use a variety of sources don't just rely on Google Searches as some questions require you to apply your knowledge in specific case scenarios
SGTs (smal l group t eaching sessions)
3 If you can't complete all the questions, don't worry - as long as you've spent at least one hour on it, you should be okay.
DeepLapt op
Still, we know how difficult it is to find your footing at the beginning, so here are a few tips froma few students (with different learning styles) to offer you advice based on their experiences.
Word
5) Get colourful! However, make sure you?re not spending more time colouring in big fancy titles than making notes. Make sure colouring is conducive to and not impeding learning. If art is something you enjoy,have that as a downtime activity,make sure your hours spent revising are quality hours Work smarter not longer or harder
1) Don? t get overwhelmed and panic, staying calmwill help you
TIP - The Uni offersevery student FREE accessto Office 365, which containsall the essential Microsoft apps like Word and PowerPoint.
On OneNote, you can insert lecture slides as PDFs and annotate them. The use of the ?Sections? , ?Pages? and ?Sub Pages?features helps to organise notes.
4) Keep a tidy work space (I can't stress how important this is if you're in mess, your mind and notes are going to feel like a mess)
Kir st yHandwr it t en
Many if not most university students write their lecture notes on a laptop I do it because I find I can type faster than I write, its easier to organise my notes, and there is an ?unlimited?amount of space to add notes to lecture slides. I will discuss the different softwares students commonly use below.
DISCLAIMER: There is no SINGLE'perfect' method of making notes for efficient revision and learning. Everyone has their own unique style, and First Year is all about trying different things until you find what works for YOU.
Many students, rather than annotating lecture slides, write the lecture slides up in Word, using bullet points.
3) Get into a routine I will spend an evening making hand written notes 3 X per week That way you feel like you?re getting stuff done but it's flexible, so you can enjoy spontaneous activities in the week.
There are many free PDF to PowerPoint converters online. On PowerPoint, you can annotate the lecture slides directly,or by adding textboxes onto slides, and you can write additional notes into the ?Notes? section.
Please note that- lecture slides are uploaded by lecturers as PDFs, which you can download onto your device- and that the University provides you with a free Office 365 account.
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Making Not es
2) Don't try to hand write notes in lectures as lecturers speak fast, so hand written notes are a struggle Instead write the important things said, that are not on the slides, and try to focus on understanding
OneNote
PowerPoint
- Highlighter option
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I use an iPad so I can carry my notes around with me, without having to bother with lots of different folders. If I get a spare hour in hospital I can make lecture notes wherever I am I use the Microsoft Notes app which allows you to organise your notes so that they are all quick and easy to access, as well as being able to insert slides/pdfs/pictures to annotate when needed. Writing my notes on an iPad rather than typing my themhelped me to remember more efficiently for exams too.
Easy exporting: For backing up files onto hard drives
Al ex - Not es on iPad/Tabl et
Ability to move, resize and rotate writing
Things to look for in a note making app
3. OneNote (4.6/5 ? ):Unlike the others, this app is free! As it is a Microsoft app, there is better compatibility with other Microsoft products like OneDrive and SharePoint. Also a password/ touch ID security option desirable for placement as you have to note down confidential information about patients.
2. Notability (4.8/5 ? ): Arguably the most popular app on the app store. Special features include: infinite page scroll and the option for audio note taking. The filing appears to be a little more advanced, as they have dividers. There are more options for ?brush?or ?pen?styles, but personally,unless you?re really artistic, it?s not needed. £8.99
- GOOD FILING! You want an app that you can easily navigate, and create folders for each module, topic etc
1. Goodnotes (4.8/5 ? ): Can easily import and export pictures & lecture slides, and annotate themwith ease. Using this app, I managed to go completely paper free, as you can even do things like fill out forms with this app. TThere is also a helpful word search tool, for example if you search ?bacteria?the app will show you every note in which you have written ?bacteria? . £7.99
TOP THREE NOTE MAKING APPSof 2021
Favourites option: Quickly navigate to the important folders Infinite page scroll
Plan ahead
Gr aceFl ashcar ds
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Speaking to older years and forging connections will make Med School a lot easier. They all have gone through first year, and will give you note-making and revision tips through their own experiences. Often these tips can open up new perspectives and avenues when approaching revision.
Bisam's TOP3 TI PS for efficient Not e-making and Lear ning
Alternatively,you may be able to find some pre made flashcard sets online (e g Quizlet), or perhaps a generous older student may offer to send you their sets. Just make sure to go through themin detail to ensure that it includes YOURlearning objectives for Birmingham
What worksfor learning Anatomy may not workfor learning Physiology or for Biochemistry - so don't be afraid to mix up the note-making and revision techniquesyou use for different modules!
Making flashcards does take a lot of time and effort, but it is manageable once you get used to it! The best way to keep on top of themis to make them throughout the term, as soon as you do a certain lecture/SGT,so that they don't build up!
Have list of all the lectures for each modules and tick off each lecture as you go along This will help you manage your time much better, come revision season.
One of the best revision techniques is Active Recall, and flashcards are perfect for this! I personally used Anki (a flashcard app). however other softwares like Quizlet can be equally useful I'd recommend against paper flash cards however, because it'll be much more time-consuming (no copy-and-paste features!) and you'll end up with thousands (no joke, unfortunately) so it'll be easy to lose them
Be efficient
Efficiency is very important in Medical School- it is something which you develop over time and often means using the best resources These are often the ones which mirror your curriculumand often older year notes are excellent in providing a framework to structure notes, with excellent illustrations.
Connect
If you are in need of pastoral support whilst in Med School then just ask at the desk and they'll be able to get you the right person to talk to. You can also contact themby email, mdsstudentservicesdesk@contacts. bham.ac.uk
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St udent Services
You'll find that most of the books you need are in the Barnes Library within the Medical School. Library staff are always on hand to help you find books or just to answer library related questions. You can also contact librarians via www.my.bham.ac.uk and talk directly with themon the online chat service
t he bar nes l ibary
TIP - be waryof librarybooksmarked with YELLOW, theseareSHORTLOAN booksand must bereturned thenext day. ThesebooksCANNOT be renewed online! To renewall other booksmarked with BLUEgo to www.my.bham.ac.uk, logon and click on my.library, FindIt@Bham then log on to your libraryaccount.
If you ever have any queries then your first port of call is the Student Services desk on the ground floor of the Med School. Occasionally the timetabling may be incorrect or a clinical lecturer/tutor will be unable to turn up to a session without notifying you. If any of the above occur then just visit the Student Service desk and they will help you out.
You also get a nice view of the med school clock!
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It is a quiet study space but more relaxed than the library
Many other places are available and everyone has their prefernece so you will figure that out in the coming weeks!
The top floor was refurbished in 2022 and is now very bright and modern, with plugs on every desk, study booths and a chill out area with sofas. This floor is my personal favourite!
Barnes is the medical school's library As well as being where you can find all the textbooks you could ever need, it also has 2 floors of study space. As it's a library these are silent study places so please bare this in mind!
I come here when I want to get things done but don't mind some distraction
wher e t o st udy?
t he med school big 4
Warning: it fills up quite quickly so get there early in the day to guarantee a spot!
Wol fson common room
doug el l is
This study space is located at the back of the ground floor of med school. It's a nice mix between the library and common room!
This is a huge area on the first floor of med school with lots and lots of computers. It's a great place to go if you need to print anything or use a computer!
This is the ideal space for group work as the big tables and no noise restrictions allow for any discussion you need
Bar nes Libr ary
It is also more relaxed and talking is allowed If you want a quiet area however, there are silent clusters at either end of the roomup a flight of stairs!
t he comput er cl ust er
Wolfson is a huge roomon the ground floor of the medical school It is a more chilled study space, complete with its own Costa and multiple vending machines.
Find your work life balance ? You might be tempted to study all the time but burn-out may soon hit you So, try to avoid getting burnt out and find time for your hobbies and interests. I amnot saying you should not work consistently! It is crucial that you stay on top of work whilst participating in other activities, such as joining societies and playing sports. Just don? t be too harsh on yourself! We are here because we have the qualities to be successful on this course
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I amyour new international rep for 2022-2023. My name is Hongseo Choi, and I will be going into 2ndyear. With one year of experience living away fromhome, I amready to be the first point of contact for all international students this year.
Always seek help when you need it ? I amhere for you as your mentor I will always be your point of contact should you have problems, concerns, and even questions and top tips for first year modules. Also, know that there are many staff in the college who can provide support in various aspects Be organised and have a study plan! ? as I have briefly touched upon in the first advice, your workload will accumulate if you do not work consistently. Try to stay organised and have a timetable for yourself everyday as this can prevent students fromprocrastination
- Please don? t forget that you can always contact me for assistance I wish you the best of luck for all you at the beginning of this incredible new chapter of life!
I have acquired several top tipsafter studying for a year in this course, and they are:
Dear International students,
A message f r om yourint er nat ional r ep!
Best time to enjoy your university life is during your first year ? The college of MDSchanged their policy to exclude first year?s contribution towards the final grade as it is considered to be the period that students learn how to study,go through trials and errors and adapt to the new environment. Therefore, enjoy your first year as much as possible as it doesn? t count!
You will be introduced to them during your first week of termbut can also meet themat in person Q&A events (with snacks) at the start of October.
Look out for your course's reps in the course section of this booklet!
or an answer t o a quest ion?
This year we have introduced a new role into the teamwho support you guys as you adjust to life at uni - the academic freshers reps!!
19 I nt r oducing academic f r esher s' r eps!!
In the mean time, and throughout the year, they are contactable via the Academics instagram account@bhammedsoc_academics. DM the account, and put your course as the first word of the message so the right rep can get back to you. They will (hopefully) respond within a day!
Feel ing a bit l ost , j ust want some advice
They are second year students fromacross the different med soc courses who have signed up to answer your questions - no matter how silly!
20 Useful I nst agr ampages: Our fr esher s' r eps have compil ed a l ist of useful pages so you don't shave to spend t he whol e year figur ing t hemout ! General - @Bhammedsoc @Bhammedsocsports - @Bhammedsoc academics @Uobmbchb - @Uob cawc Academics Anatomy: @Uob anatomysoc Anesthetics and Critical Care: @uobaccs - Biomed: @uobbiomed Clinical Pharmacology: @clinicalpharmsoc uob Dermatology: @uobdermsoc Emergency Medicine: @Bemsbirmingham - ENT: @Uobentsoc Gastrointestinal: @bugs bham - GP: @uobgpsociety Haematology: @uob haemsoc - Immunology and Microbiology: @imsocuob Medical Leadership: @uob bmls Neuro: @Bhamneurosoc Nurse: @uob nursesoc Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine: @birminghamnutritanksociety Oncology: @uob oncsoc Ophthalmology: @uobophthalmologysoc Orthopaedics: @orthosoc Paeds: @ubms pongsoc - PALS: @pals bham Pathology: @uob pathsoc - Physiotherapy: @uob physiosoc Psychiatry: @psychsocbham Respiratory: @Bhamrespsoc - Sports Medicine: @uob sportsmedicine Surgery: @uob surgsoc - Wilderness Medicine: @brumwildernessmedics Women in Medicine: @Uobwimbem Sports Dance: @medsocdance Fitness: @ubmsfitclub Med Yoga: @uobmedyoga Medics badminton: @ubmsbadminton Medics Football: @ubms fc Medics hockey: @ubms hc Medics netball: @ubmsnetball Medics Rugby Mens: @ubms rfc Medics Rugby Womens: @ubms wrfc Medrun: @ubmsmedrun MedSwim: @medswimuob Charities - Docs not Cops: @uobdnc - Friends of MSF: @bhamfomsf - Global Brigades: @uobglobalbrigades - MedMinds: @birminghammedminds - Saving Lives: @savinglivesuob Street Doctors: @streetdoctorsbirmingham - Teddy Bear Hospital: @brumteddies - Widening Access to Medicine: @bwamsbirmingham Other African Caribbean Medical Society: @acmsbirmingham - Musical Theatre: @ubms arte Christian Medical Fellowship: @birminghamcmf - Earth Resus Team: @earthresusteam - Islamic Medical Society: @imedbham - Language Exchange: @ubmslangex - Medsoc LGBTQ+ Society:
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Other
- Gastrointestinal: BhamBUGS
Ophthalmology: University of Birmingham Ophthalmology Society
Biomed: UoBBiomedical Science Y1 2022/2023
- Med Yoga: MedYoga (Birmingham MedSoc)
Academic Medicine: BirminghamAcademic Medicine Society - BAMsoc
Dermatology: University of BirminghamDermSoc
Women in Medicine: Women in Medicine UoB
Wilderness Medicine: Birmingham Wilderness and Expedition Medicine Society
Clinical Pharmacology: UOBClinical Pharmacology Society
Pathology: BhamPathSoc
2022 2023 Official BirminghamMedsoc Freshers BirminghamMedSoc
Emergency Medicine: BirminghamEmergency Medicine Society BEMS Endocrinology: endoscouob ENT: UBMSENTsoc
Surgery: SurgSoc
Neuro: UOBNeuroSoc Nurse: UoB NurseSoc Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine: Nutritanksoc@Birmingham
Academics
Physiotherapy: PhysioSoc UoB PONGSoc (Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Neonatology and Gynacology Society):
BMSPathSocPalliative Medicine: Birmingham Palliative Care Society
- Medics Badminton: UBMS Badminton
- Medics Dance: Medsoc Dance Society
African
Oncology: UBMSOncology Society
Language
Christian Medical Fellowship: Student CMF Birmingham Debating Society: UBMSDebating Earth Resus Team: Earth Resus Team Islamic Medical Society: IMed Birmingham Exchange: UBMSLangEx Medsoc LGBTQ+ Society: Please email the following address to be give the link to the hidden facebook group: brum medsoc lgbtq@outlookcom Tutti: medsoc tutti
Cardiovascular: University of Birmingham Cardiovascular Society (CardioSoc)
Sports
GP: UoBGP Society Haematology: UoBHaemSoc Immunology and Microbiology: UoB Immunology and Microbiology Society Medical Leadership: @UoBBMLS
- Medics Fitness: FitClub MedSoc Medics football: UBMSFC Medics hockey: UBMSMixed Hockey Club Medics netball: UBMSnetball Medics Rugby Mens: University of BirminghamMedics RFC UBMSRFC Medics Rugby Womens: Rugby Birds Medrun: UBMSMedrun MedSwim: Medswim(Birmingham MedSoc)
Anatomy: BirminghamAnatomy Society
UBMSPONGSoc Psychiatry: bhampsychsoc - Psychiatry: BirminghamPsychSoc Sports Medicine: BirminghamUniversity Sport and Exercise Medicine Society (BUSEMS)
PALS: BirminghamMedschool Peer Assisted Learning Scheme
- Caribbean Medical Society: ACMS(African Caribbean Medical Society University of Birmingham)
Useful facebook pages:
Orthopaedics: Trauma & Orthopaedic Society (University of BirminghamMedSoc)
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Anesthetics and Critical Care: Birmingham Anaesthetics and Critical Care Society BACCS
Sem1 runs fromthe end of September to the Christmas break in December
Structure and Teaching
Each module is taught via a number of methods. Broadly they can be divided into: Teaching sessions (SGTs) Most are led by a facilitator, but some are self-directed (with the members of your M Group) Anatomy Learning ( SDLs) -consist of independent activities (e.g. Quizzes)
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- Lectures - Small Group
- Sem2 runs fromJanuary to the end of April.
TIP- Make sure you check in advance which sessions require preparatory work. It may seemdifficult and tedious, but it isworth the effort! It meansyou can get the most out of each session by actively contributing and asking relevant questions.
- Sem3 runs fromafter Easter. There will be a few weeks of teaching and then revision and exams.
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The first year is split into three semesters:
- In this semester, you also have a Poster Project to do with your M Group.
TIP: In each semester, you will have a 'Consolidation Week' when there will be very few (if any) lectures, so you have time to catch up on lectures/notes. At the end of the week, you'll have 'Formative Assessments' which are mock exams Use this opportunity to get used to the style of questions asked and the time you'll have for each section. Don't stress too much about preparing for them you only have one week, but give it your best shot as it is a great way to test your knowledge!
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-
sessions - Self Directed
- Community
Modul
- Professional and Academic Skills (PAS)
With a group of 5/6 other students, you will have placement days at GP surgeries across West Midlands. There are 8 days in total. Usually,the morning is filled with teaching and in the afternoon you will likely see patients and practice skills you?ve learned.
In this module, you'll learn anatomy based on regions (e g Abdomen) rather than by system(e.g. Respiratory). This module is about combining and applying your knowledge fromthe other modules, so you can make connections and see the human body as a whole, which will be vital in clinical scenarios.
On top of this you also study three extra modules which run throughout the year:
- Regional Anatomy (RA)
es In each of Semester 1 and 2 you study three science based modules and one 'Medicine In Society' module. These are grouped into Foundations 1 and Foundations 2. Foundations2: - Muscles, Joints and Movement (MJM) - Digestive System(DIG) - Introduction to Respiratory Medicine (IRM) - Doctors, Patients and Society (DPS) Foundations1: - Molecules to Man (MTM) - Cellular Communication, Endocrinology & Pharmacology (CEP) - Neurones and Synapses (NAS) - People, Patients and Populations (PPP) Tip: The modules can be a bit of a 'handful', so try and stay on top of your work and don't let things pile up!
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This module is about developing the soft skills e g communication that you will need to be a doctor. You will also get advice on academic writing (essays, research papers) and exampreparation! Based Medicine (CBM)
In the morning session you'll be given a clinical scenario and go through it as a group. You'll create a mind map summarising the main themes, and identify a few questions/areas to explore further based on the scenario. You will then research these in smaller 'mini M groups' over the break, and present your findings in the afternoon sessions in front of your peers and tutor
Focus on understanding the information first
On top of this, in Sem2 you will cover anatomy heavily in the MJM (Muscles, Joints and Movements) module - even more time to consolidate RA knowledge.
TIP: Anatomy IShard. But don't let the amount of information overwhelmyou - the fact that you've made it to Med School isproof that YOU CAN DO THIS. Plus, there are loadsof handy resourcesto make anatomy learning easier - have a lookon page 20!
Although you won't be explicitly tested on the content you cover in the small group sessions, it is super important to practice your research skills and your ability to present your ideas clearly & concisely to a group of people.
- Don? t leave your presentation to the last minute - make a clear plan with your group in the morning so you all know what to do, and the workload is equally shared.
Alongside learning anatomy in your main Foundations modules, you will also cover anatomy in the context of 'regions' of the body,such as the 'Abdomen' or 'Upper Limb'.
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- DON'T try to LEARN everything as soon as it is mentioned in a lecture
PASconsists of lectures and bi weekly small group sessions usually on Thursdays On these days, you will have two sessions with a break in between.
Top Tips for PAS: Attendance is key!
Top Tips for RA, especially at the start:
You will see that most of the content is repeated many times through the year With the repeated exposure, a lot the jargon will soon become second nature.
TIP: In the PASwritten exam, you'll have to draw a mind-map - so get asmuch practice in these sessionsaspossible!
RA
- LISTEN - do not try to note down everything that is said.
How is PAStaught?
PAS
You can get trains from University,Selly Oak or 5 Ways stations depending on where you live Click the link to look at routes
Do the prep work in the CBM booklet accessible via the CBM Canvas page. Each day's schedule and content is different fromthe last, so by doing this you will always know what to expect.
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pl acement - CBm
Taxi
During the placement you'll learn some basic clinical skills like taking histories frompatients or measuring blood pressure., and have a chance to directly talk to patients. Each week has a 'theme', for example Diabetes or Arthritis, which is loosely based around the modules you are covering at the time, so you can reinforce your scientific knowledge with clinical experience. At the end of second year you will hae an examthat tests the skills you learned on CBM over the 2 years..
- Be enthusiastic and actively engage in discussions! Spending a whole day with a clinician in such a small group setting is INVALUABLE time for you to ask questions and contextualise the scientific content you've learnt.
Bus
What do you do?
- CBM is very much about developing your clinical communication skills. So use your time wisely and talk to as many people as you can!
Uber is probably the easiest option if you're all leaving from the same place, but allow at least an extra 10 minutes for the time ubers take to book and arive, especially since you'll go during rush hour
How do you get there?
There are various bus stops around the university accommodation click the link to look at routes and times.
Tr ain
The medical school do NOT provide transport or give any financial support towards transport costs. This is because you are only traveling 8 days in total. However, there are many easy methods of getting to placement via bus, train or taxi You can also share lifts with someone if they have a car
Things to remember:
TIP- DO NOT FORGET YOURGREEN BADGE! It tells the patients who you are AND ensures that you are not mistaken for a member of staff - this isVERY important!
- Short sleeved smart blouse/shirt (or roll the sleeves up), skirt/smart trousers, ORa smart dress (knee length), and nice shoes (no big heels!).
- Short sleeved smart shirt (or roll the sleeves up), tie is optional, smart trousers (chinos or suit trousers - no jeans) and nice shoes. Make sure you tuck your shirt in!
- Make sure nothing is too short or transparent! Also remove any nail polish or fake nails for infection control!!
TIP- Don't forget your stethoscopeand a watch! You will learn to examine patientsby taking their pulse and blood pressure so thisis vital!
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- All hospitals operate a 'bare below the elbows' policy so make sure your sleeves are rolled up if you are wearing a long sleeved shirt
Generally,Med School say 'office wear' is the appropriate dress code for placement days. Your appearance can mean a lot when it comes to first impressions! It is also something GP tutors consider when writing your end of placement report
What do you wear to pl acement ?
27
TIP - going frombeing an A* student in school to suddenly being 'average' in Med School can be hard. Just remember that you have yearsof training ahead of you, so you don't need to learn absolutely everything now. No one gets100% , most people don't even get above 80%so just remember that passing is the most important thing!
You can also get extra help through the Academic SkillsCentre (based
Essays
In year,you'll one for PASin Sem1, and a while through PAS. in the
one for CBM in Sem2. I know most of you won't have written essaysin
first
have to write two essays-
28 January: - Multiple choice and very short answer questionsexam(2.5 hours) - Short answer questionsexam(2.5 hours) - Regional anatomy exam(1 hour) Both exams (excluding RA) will contain questions from the Foundations One module. - MTM - CEP - NAS - PPP May: - MCQs(2.5 hours) - SAQs(2.5 hours) Both exams will contain questions fromthe Foundations Two module. - - MJM - IRM - DIG - DPS - Regional Anatomy - 1 hour - - Essay (60%) - - Short answer questions (40%) - PAS - - Case study exam- 1 hour June After exams in May,there is a Poster Project you complete in Mini-M groups. The posters are presented to your peers and examiners. The final mark does not go towards your overall year mark but it is a compulsory component of the course so you must pass it. Exams
but don't worry! You'll get a lot of guidance beforehand
BarnesLibrary). Follow thislinkto find out how to make an appointment!
Here are some textbooks you may want to check out. really needed for first term for
CEP and NAS)- Histology: - Junquiera'sBasic Histology (Used for most modules: MTM, CEP,NAS, IRM, DIG)
Useful r esources
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Although lecture notesshould be your main source of information (asthisiswhat exams questionswill be based on), it?simportant to have a range of information sourcesat your disposal.
Books
TIP - You can just borrow the bookyou need fromthe library. Aslong asyou keep renewing it you can keep it for aslong asyou need. Keep checking your account to make sure it hasn't been requested backthough. Also, some bookscan't be renewed over the holidaysso be aware!
There are different waysof explaining the same concepts- you just have to find what makesthe most sense for you.
for MTM & NAS)- Pharmacology: - Rang and Dale'sPharmacology (especially useful
The library is full of themso you should have a look at the range of books available before deciding to spend any money. You can also get lots of books on Clinical Key (an online library which is free to use with your UoB login) or you can find free PDF versions. Ask your medic parents or the academic freshers' repsthey may be able to pass down some PDF links to you!
DO NOT BUY BOOKSSTRAIGHT AWAY!
- Anatomy: - Gray'sAnatomy For Students - Or - Moore'sClinically Oriented Anatomy- Biochemistry: - Essential Cell Biology (only
- YouTube Channels Ninja Nerd Lectures - AK Lectures Armando
- Widely recommended by students- thiswebsite ispitched at just the right level for medical students, with fantastic coloured diagramsand heapsof clinical correlations. KenHub
-
A large collection of videos covering all the human anatomy you will ever need to know. They use real cadavers and bones as well as models to help you visualise the structures in real life. EXCELLENT resource for anatomy sheets and preparing for Prosection sessions. (You get free access to all videos via the Med School! Hasudungan
Acland'sAnatomy
A guide fromthe University of Leeds which can be extremely useful for completing histology sheets. Me Anatomy
- Teach
30 -
- LeedsHistology Guide
- Another anatomy website with a mox of free and paid for content. It ismore detailed than Teach Me Anatomy so can be good for the more niche content
ONLI NE RESOURCES
Disclaimer: Be careful that certain terminology may be different in the US-based content If you are ever confused about which terminology to use, don? t be afraid to ask an SGT facilitator or lecturer to clarify!
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weeks finding your routine and don't be afraid to discard a popular method if you find it ineffective!" We know that adapting to university life can be intimidating and it is very normal to feel quite lost! The freshers academic reps are here to be your first port of call for answering any questions you might have about uni, whether its about where to study,where to shop, where to go to the pub... they'll be able to help you out! You can contact themon the @bhammedsoc academics instagrampage! "Plan your workload ahead of each week. Schedule time each day to complete the lectures and prep work for M group sessions for each module Be realistic with yourself and make sure you build in study breaks and time for your hobbies" Lucy "Try to revise consistently throughout the semester, examseason will arrive quicker than you think!" You can cont act t hemon inst agr amor come al ong and meet t hemon t he 3r d October at med school ! Look out for t his event beingadver t ised soon!! El l en
Heat her "Spend the
Meet your fr esher s' academic r eps first few
Because the software has so many useful functions, it will take some time to get used to. The Complete Anatomy website outlines a lot of these (blue link), and you can also find some of their tutorials on YouTube (red link).
top t ips for l ear ning anatomy
Anatomy is a notoriously difficult subject due to the incredible amount of content that you have to learn. At Birmingham, learning anatomy is largely self-directed, meaning you have to decide how much effort you put in and take responsibility for getting it done. With subjects that require you to learn a significant amount of low complexity information like anatomy,studies have shown that engaging in self directed learning is the best way to remember, contextualize and integrate this information.
Compl et e Anatomy
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Complete Anatomy is a 3D-anatomy app you get free access to, which essentially contains all the anatomy you will ever need to know It has hundreds of virtual models, covering everything fromgross to microscopic anatomy. It's also highly interactive you can view the models fromall different angles, pick and choose which structures you want to focus on and get detailed annotations with just one click. We'd highly recommend downloading the app on your laptop/tablet, and referring to it whenever you're doing anything anatomy-related.
9. Make the most out of peer learning - have group study sessions. Teaching others will help to reinforce content and identify any weaker areas in your learning.
10. Don't overlook clinical correlationssection - this is great practice for applying your knowledge, which you will do a lot in later years!
Maiar Elhariry CAWCVice (2021/2022)
2. Read the pages of the textbookrecommended in the worksheet (should be able to access most books online via Clinical Key)
BirminghamAnatomy Society are a great source of anatomy revision and help. Check themout on facebook, instagramand meet themat freshers' fayre!
1. Don? t leave anatomy sheets until the last minute - try and complete themat least the weekend before the session.
7. Always start with the basicsand then build up the detail step by step. Anatomy is a vast subject you can't learn it all in one go!
Chair
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Anam
With this in mind, here are CAWC?s Top 10 Tips to help you get the most out of Anatomy:
8. The best way to learn anatomy is through Active Recall and Spaced Repetition. Here is a super useful video explaining the evidence behind both these concepts...
5. Keep a hold of the histology and imaging picturesas these may come up as questions in the exam.
3. Complete as much of the sheet as possible, even if you don't quite understand everything - this will help you to ask specific questionsduring the session.
6. Try and apply your anatomy to the physiology you're learning about during lectures - this will help you understand both of thembetter.
Jaw aid CAWCChair (2021/22)
4. Make use of all the visual learning tools available: coloured diagrams, atlases, photos of real specimens,Youtube videos, Complete Anatomy (3-d visuals)
TIP: Don't be afraid to message or approach your medic parents - all the years in med school talk to each other and there's no 'hierarchy' or anything. You'll probably end up making friends with lots of people fromother years when you join societies as well!
TIP - In Freshers' week, make an M group chat on Whatsapp/ Facebook!
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Your PM (personal mentor) group is your new medic family! There are usually 2-3 students from each year, along with two personal mentors (one for pre clinical and one for the clinical years).
You will meet your tutor regularly for individual meetings throughout the year to check how you are settling in and doing on the course. If you have any concerns or are struggling with anything, you can bring it up in these meetings.
Medic Par ent s
Your M Group
Your PM Group
You will also have some whole group meetings during the year which is a great opportunity to make friends with your medic parents and grandparents (of which there are 5-6 generations!)
You will meet your M group in the first few days of Freshers' Week Over the next year all of your teaching sessions will be with this group, and you may even find you are on GP placement with one of themtoo! Although the 'getting to know you' activities may get a bit cheesy and mundane they are a vital part of creating a close M group bond. Most people find their closest friends in their first year M group that last for life, so get involved and get to know the people you're with!
Your medic parents will meet you during Freshers' Week to give you a tour around the Medical School and University campus. Make sure you get your medic parents' contact details in Freshers' Week because you can ask themliterally anything about med school, uni life, revision etc... they've volunteered for the role so will be more than happy to help!
Sometimes parents aren't as helpful as they could be unfortunately... If this happens the academic freshers reps are always happy to step in and answer your questions!
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Structure and Teaching
(GEC) are: - ProblemBased Learning - Every Tuesday you are presented with a problemto discuss in groups and come up with learning objectives, and on Friday you report back your findings - Anatomy - Self-directed sessions are every Monday, which you need to prepare for - There are also anatomy demonstrator led sessions every Wednesday - GP placement - Every Thursday (the highlight of the week!) - Lectures - Seminars Gr aduat e Ent rymedicine
2
What to expect
The graduate entry course (GEC) starts in early September, with Semester running until late December, and Semester fromJanuary (where you have some exams) to late March. There are then 3 weeks off for Easter and 2 weeks of lectures when you come back, before summer exams start. main methods of teaching on the graduate entry course
The
...
1
try to sell books to you: older GECs, the Med School and by the end of the year your cookies on Amazon! My advice is don? t buy them. The library
- Exams in November (10%) and June (90%)
Every module incorporates science with medicine in society,which includes psychology,sociology,law and ethics, public health and statistics
You will work through various modules throughout the year, with each module allocated a specific number of weeks
- Exams in January (10%) and June (90%)
Fuels Renal,
Threats and Defence and microbiology
Loss and Renewal
- and genetics Examin June (100%) Liver, Digestion and Endocrine. Examin June (100%) you need to attend and sessions to pass.
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory medicine Exams in November (10%) and June (90%)
Reproduction
Complex Issues A revision module - Not examined formally but
contribute to
Modul es will has their GEC
44 Lots of people
own books in the
rooms free to use. Text books
What it says on the tin?
Cells and Cancer
every book you could possibly need and GECs have
Immunology
Supply and Demand
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- Exams in January (10%) and June (90%)
Thinking and Doing Neuroscience
38
You are taught through
variety
methods: - Lectures - Small Group Teaching sessions (SGTs) - with a teaching lead - without a teaching lead - Anatomy teaching sessions - Lab practicals
What to expect ... Biomedical science
TIP makesure that you completeALLprep workfor SGTsand anatomyteachingsessions. It makesthingsso much easier onceyou arein thesession and most teaching staff expect you to have completed it and WILLcatch you out if you haven't.
Structure and Teaching
The first year is split into three semesters. Semester 1 runs fromthe end of September to the Christmas break. Semester 2 then runs fromJanuary to the end of April. Students then have a 4 week (roughly) break to revise for exams that take place in semester 3, fromMay to mid June. a of
39 Modul es and t eaching st r uct ur e Throughout Semester 1 and 2 you study 6 modules, supported by lab based projects and coursework. Semester one: - Fundamentals of life science (20 credit) - Cellular biology & biochemistry (20 credit) - Fundamentals of neuroscience (10 credit) Semester two: - Cardiovascular and respiratory science (20 credit) - Digestion and renal science (20 credit) - Fundamentals of pharmacology (10 credit) Modul es t eaching This course has quite a few contact hours... but it is easy to manage your time! Lectures are given to the whole year, and interactive anatomy and small group teaching (SGT) sessions are given to your ?B?group. 10 15 students make up your ?B?group and this is allocated to you at the start of the year. There are also laboratory sessions once every few weeks, usually taking up a whole morning or afternoon.
The coursework element can be in the formof essays, poster presentations, PowerPoint presentations and data interpretation quizzes.
Exams
You must achieve at least 35%in each component (coursework and exam) & 40% overall to pass the module, if not re-sits are available in the august summer period, but you are capped at 40%and thus is not recommended nor is it convenient.
For each module there is a coursework and examcomponent, both equating for 50%of the final module grade.
3 exams one for each module will happen at the end of the semester containing those modules, semester one examperiod is in January and semester two examperiod is in May/June.
Tip: Medical and scientific textbooks can be very expensive. If you are the sort of person who likes physical copies, try borrowing books fromthe library. If you find then really useful after borrowing themfirst, then maybe consider buying the book
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books
All textbooks (if needed) are available to borrow fromthe university?s medical library (Barnes library) and they are also electronic copies online clinical key or PDFs handed down fromolder years. Therefore, it isn? t recommended that textbooks are bought as they are only used to help solidify the content taught in the modules.
Textbooks on the BMedSci programme aren? t used as often as medical literature like review articles and research articles found in medical journals These medical journals can be accessed through your university log in as the university subscribes to most of the medical journals out there.
If you are planning on using textbooks make sure they are fromthe newest edition and for journal literature, make sure they are peer reviewed and froma journal with a high impact factor.
For the most part examinations contain questions based on what you have learnt within the module, it?s just recommended that supplementary reading around the topic is done just to solidify and further your knowledge
Joining Medsoc and appropriate societies provides information regarding social events, academic events, revision sessions and is a great way to meet new people across all degrees under the medical school.
PLAN OUT YOURWEEK ? first year has a lot of contact hours and it is easy to fall behind whether you intentionally or accidentally miss lectures or SGT?s
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Hi all, I?mReygn Done and I amyour Biomedical science MedSoc Rep for the 2022/2023 academic year!
First year of university can be a little daunting with all the new changes happening after the step up fromA-levels. Here are some of my top tips to hopefully make this transition easier!
Try to go to all SGT?s ? a lot of the questions you cover in SGT?s are like the questions you receive in exams.
Have fun!! University can be difficult and stressful for some so finding that balance is a great way to let off some steamand prevent yourself frombecoming overwhelmed.
Reach out to those in the years above (Biomed Medsoc Rep), family reps, academic tutors etc with questions you may have, this is not only a great way to learn get guidance and support but also a great way to network and get exposure
Essent ial advice!
Ashl eigh Mol l ie
"Use the first few lectures to try out different note taking techniques! While you may expect to take notes on paper, maybe you? ll find that typing your notes works better? or maybe you prefer annotating lecture slides. You need to find what works best for you, so don? t be afraid to use the first couple of lectures to try out different techniques."
Meet your fr esher s' academic r eps
We know that adapting to university life can be intimidating and it is very normal to feel quite lost! The freshers academic reps are here to be your first port of call for answering any questions you might have about uni, whether its about where to study,where to shop, where to go to the pub they'll be able to help you out! You can contact themon the @bhammedsoc academics instagrampage!
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"Try anything and everything, and ask as many questions as you can!"
43
The bulk of the years teaching will be in the first two semesters and the first two or three weeks of semester The remainder of semester 3 is dedicated to a three- or four-week revision period followed by exams and other assessments (like OSCEs). are taught via a variety of different ways: These are mostly in person, but you can have some online Small group teaching (SGT) sessions: These are similar to small classroom sessions in school, where you go over lecture content and any preparatory work you?ve been given teaching sessions: A hybrid between lectures and SGTs, these will go over new content not covered in lectures. You? ll also have the opportunity to do prosections throughout the year (looking at parts of a real human cadaver!) practicals: These are where you make the formulations you learn about (pastes, solutions, powders etc.) Practice (PP) sessions: Take place in a computer lab, where you learn about the legality of and practice dispensing You talk to actors in you see what do in to
2.
placements in Hospital, Community Pharmacy and GP placements
prescriptions
3.
TIP Try and complete all prep work before SGT,PP,and lab practicals. The teaching staff are there to help but generally expect you to have at least had a crack at the pre work unless they tell you otherwise
Each year is split into three semesters: runs fromSeptember to just before Christmas fromJanuary to around the end of April (Easter time) fromMay to around the middle of June.
6. Clinical communication sessions:
3 Anatomy
4 Lab
practice patient consultation scenarios 7 Placements: Here
5. Professional
Semester 1
pharmacists
- Semester 2
practice thanks
What to expect ... Phar macy
You
and - Semester 3
1. Lectures:
Structure and Teaching
Throughout the year you can be assessed via coursework and exams
Coursework contributes for up to 50% of each module, and each module will generally have at least two or three pieces of coursework. Exams generally happen around the end of May to mid June and again contribute about 50%of each module There is a calculations exam that happens in January that is either pass or fail, but the Uni will provide practice resources to help you with this. You must achieve at least 50%in the year and pass every module in order to pass the year. There is an opportunity to resit exams and coursework in August, but I wouldn? t recommend it!
44 Modul es and t eaching st r uct ur e Throughout Semester 1 and 2 you study 7 modules, supported by coursework throughout the year. 1. Science of Medicines 2. Chemistry for Pharmacists 3. The Professional Pharmacist 4. Health, Disease and Therapeutics 1.1 (semester 1 only) 5. Health, Disease and Therapeutics 1.2 (semester 2 only) 6. Professional Placements Experience 7. Professional Portfolio Modul es t imet abl e You can have contact hours from9am-6pmon weekdays (9am-1pmon a Wednesday) These can be anything, fromlectures and SGTs to Labs which can take up a whole morning or afternoon. Wednesday afternoon is specifically given off for every University course so you can take part in Sports and Societies (or catch up on work if that?s what you want to do!) There are free hours throughout the week, so you shouldn? t worry too much about long days You can spend this time working, relaxing, or even catching up on sleep!
Exams
ip: Medical and scientific textbooks can be very expensive. If you are the sort of person who likes physical copies, try borrowing books fromthe library. If you find then really useful after borrowing themfirst, then maybe consider buying the book
45
Module leads will give you a list of recommended reading to solidify your knowledge in the module introductory lecture and at the end of most lectures. It?s up to you whether or not you decide to do the reading. This list can be quite extensive, so it might be worth deciding for yourself if it worth doing the reading All the books you need can be found in the Medical School Barnes Library or the main Library on Campus. You can also find digital copies of books on findit@bhamwhich is basically an online library. Because of this you don? t need to buy any books, but if you want to, there will always be students selling themsecond hand a lot cheaper than retail price. If you wait long enough, you might be able to pick hard copies up for free at the end of the year when students are moving out. Be sure to go over and understand your lecture notes however, as this is what will be assessed. The books are used as background knowledge and wider reading, which may not necessarily come up on assessments
books
T
Join the Medsoc and Pharmacy Facebook and Instagrampages as soon as you can. These will have loads of information about revision sessions, promote sports and societies and give you info on upcoming nights out and Medsoc related eventsand amazing way to make friends!.
Med Soc
Hi, my name?sBilal, I?ma 4th year Pharmacy student and the 2022/23 Medsoc Pharmacy Rep on the Medsoc Committee. I?ve learnt a lot (and still am) during my time at the University of Birmingham, so I?ve jotted down some pieces of advice for incoming students to help you succeed here!
Essent ial advice!
Have the Canvas app downloaded on your phone, and have notifications turned on (as well as for your Uni email). Your timetable can change very quickly so it will help you keep on top of things. It? ll also let you know when coursework and feedback is released and other important notifications.
46
Engage with people on your course! Not just your year but the years above you. They will always be able to help if you?re in a pickle with work or understanding lectures and they?re a good resource to help clarify gaps in your knowledge
ASK QUESTIONS!!! You won? t be the only one that doesn? t know something, and SGTs are there for you to ask questions, so ask away (the lecturers love it trust me)!!
"My top tip for freshers is that you will never be as happy to get 40%as you will this year"
Meet your fr esher s' academic r ep
47
We know that adapting to university life can be intimidating and it is very normal to feel quite lost! The freshers academic reps are here to be your first port of call for answering any questions you might have about uni, whether its about where to study,where to shop, where to go to the pub they'll be able to help you out! You can contact themon the @bhammedsoc academics instagrampage!
Hamza
Modul es (there is also a way is of
pl acement
Books and r esour ces Anatomy: teach me anatomy (online), Gray?s Anatomy
What to expect ... Dent ist ry
The most wonderful thing about studying Dentistry is the sate-of-the-art dental hospital that the dental school is situated within. This means you will not have to travel anywhere for your first-year clinical assist placements as it is right there at the dental hospital where you have your lectures. You are also so lucky to have patient/clinical experience so early on. Clinical assist sessions will give you the opportunity to help the final year students with their clinics by doing the suction, getting dental materials and instruments, and ensuring good infection control between patients. It is also a great opportunity to meet some older students, ask themfor some advice and see where you will be in four years!
student edition), google images I think the best
48
to look at lots
pictures! Histology: Junqueira's Basic Histology or Wheater's Functional Histology Fundamentals of professionalismand clinical practise: https://standards.gdc uk.org/
You will be first year of the new curriculumwhich is exciting stuff this will ensure that all the content you are learning is most relevant to your degree and your professional development First year is mostly about understanding the scientific and biological basis of body systems so you can build on this knowledge with the more specialist dental knowledge in the later years It usually entails some biological science modules such as an introduction to biomedical/biological sciences, physiology,digestive and renal systems and more anatomy-based modules e.g. the neuromuscular skeletal system. Finally, there is a more dental specific module that will take you through professionalism and the foundations of dental practise (here is where you will have some clinical experience!)
2. Help each other! The peers in your cohort know better than anyone what you are going through with workload, that annoying essay and hungover 9AMs so don? t be afraid to ask for help and work together.
4. Find a way of working that works for you and stay organised. Everyone works in different ways and you? ll find that the jump fromA level to university means that you probably can? t memorise everything like you did back then. Take this time to experiment with learning/studying styles that work for you. Personally,I ama big fan of Anki which is an online flashcard software which displays flashcards in a spaced-repetition fashion
1 Work life balance! Dentistry is tough as I?msure you have heard but burying yourself under anatomy sheets and tearing your hair out about ECGs will only make things harder. Make sure you set some boundaries with work, so you can manage the workload whilst also enjoying the uni experience. Take time to hang out with your friends/flatmates and have a laugh and understand the importance of ?me?time
I'mhoping to bestow some advice so you avoid any teething problems (pardon the pun!) when it comes to your first year at dental school!
49
3. Don? t be afraid to get it wrong. At university there are small group teaching sessions (SGTs) which are a brilliant chance to ask questions and use lecturers to facilitate your learning Use this opportunity to your advantage and get involved it doesn? t matter if you answer a question wrong, trust me no one will remember it! It also just saves lots of awkward pauses which aren? t fun for anyone.
Top tips:
Hel l o Fr esher s! My name is Shir in and you may have seen me around as t he Secr et ary of MedSoc but I am al so a gr aduat e Dent ist .
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The structure can change due to factors such as covid pressures and availability of placements. Experience in each field cannot always be guaranteed due to lack of availability,however the teamtry their hardest to make sure your learning is a complete as possible!
You're taught through a variety of methods: - Lectures - Tutorials - Placement - Online sessions - Clinical skills sessions - Group learning
Structure and Teaching
What to expect ... Nur sing
The first year is split into three semesters. You will have three placements across the year: one in the adult field, one in the mental health field and the third relating to public health, children and families.
TIP- it is good practise to keep up to date with online content in the designated independent study time. Also, it is ideal to make notes/to go over a lecture content prior to a lecture (usually lecture presentation is released early on canvas) as making notes fromthe presentation and understanding the lecturer?s explanations at the same time can lead to key information being missed Moreover, ask questions and engage in tutorial sessions as these consist of a smaller group setting in comparison to lectures and can be a useful way to clarify anything you do not understand
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You will study the main areas of nursing during the 'Principles of Nursing' module through lectures and teaching sessions covering everything fromanatomy to ethics and professionalism!
The first year is 'combined' - meaning that you have the opportunity to experience three fields of nursing (adult, child and mental health) before choosing one to pursue in second year. Placements are in 7 weekblocksthree timesa year, this is the same for second year too.
Clinical skills are taught on placement but you can request extra sessions with the clinical skills teamat uni if there's any proficiencies you're struggling with!
Modul es
TIP- don't be afraid to askfor help when you're on placement. It can be quite tough suddenly being in a new environment but the hospital isfull of people who will be happy to help. The people doing the job are the best onesto learn from!
After this, placements will begin in various areas of nursing: adult, child, mental health, etc
TIP- first year is
exhausting so make sure that you have a good 'work:life' balance. There are so many different societies in MedSoc - including NurseSoc! so take a look around the Societiesfair during Freshers' Weekand see what takesyour fancy! Assessment Methods Contact Hours 40%= Coursework 30%= Seminars 40%= Written exam 20%= Independent study 20%= Practical Exam 50%= Time on placement Thistable showsyou how assessment and your time will be split thisyear!
52 t he cr edit syst em As with all courses, each component you study is worth a certain amount of credits: this is equivalent to the components' weighting in your overall mark for the year. Here is a breakdown of the credits available throughout first year: 40 credits ? Principle of Nursing 40 credits ? Essential Nursing Care 40 credits ? Health and Wellbeing
You will learn at university it is all about taking the initiative and independent learning. So brings loads of confidence in that pencil case with you and I?msure you? ll have fun!
Hi! My name is Noman, I?myour Nursing Rep. I am a third year Mental Health nursing student.
You have done very well to gain a place through hard work and persistence. There will be times when things might feel tough if that?s ever the case remind yourself of all your achievements to get this far and how happy you were when you secured a place at Birmingham.
I really want to use this section to offer you as many top tips as possible. I know it can be quite a daunting experience when starting university,but this is exactly where you belong.
The fancy words the lecturers use at times can add to the confusion but do not hesitate to ask for help!
The academic workload and uni life can be overwhelming, especially at the start. I would recommend breaking everything down into smaller chunks by making a to-do list and giving priority to the most important tasks. It will ease the pressure as now you will have a plan to tackle the problems of the world or your world. The course content can feel like an uphill battle at the start when you?re trialling what does and doesn? t work for you.
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"Stay organised and don't be afraid to ask for help!"
"Dont be afraid to ask questions, and no questions are silly! You will be responsible for your own learning, so if you need help, use the resources available to you, and remember, you are never alone in your nursing journey!
Laur
"Don't be afraid to go and do some things alone. Don't over complicate things,; take themat your own pace and don't let others worry you - you're on your own journey! en
kat her ine shol a sal l ie
Meet your fr esher s' academic r eps
We know that adapting to university life can be intimidating and it is very normal to feel quite lost! The freshers academic reps are here to be your first port of call for answering any questions you might have about uni, whether its about where to study,where to shop, where to go to the pub... they'll be able to help you out! You can contact themon the @bhammedsoc academics instagrampage!
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"Don't drop out the first time it crosses your mind It does get better!!"
You are taught through a variety of methods: - Lectures - Small group teaching sessions/ Practicals (which are really hands-on sessions) - Labs - Research - Seminars Exams : Functional Anatomy = Class test (MCQ and SAQ). Lab report. Unseen written exam. - Human Physiology & Exercise = MCQ?s. Lab reports. - Becoming a Physiotherapist = Canvas quizzes. Group poster presentation, research participation (5 hours), Unseen exam. - Sport, Exercise, & Health Psychology = MCQ?s, Coursework Clinical & Exercise Biochemistry = Coursework, Online exam - Scientific & Professional Communication = Coursework in collaboration with active research team
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What to expect ... her apy
The first year is split into three semesters. Semester 1 runs fromthe end of September to the Christmas break. Semester 2 then runs fromJanuary to the end of April. Students then have a 4 week (roughly) break to revise for exams that take place in semester 3, fromMay to mid June.
Physiot
Structure and Teaching
- Scientific & Professional Communication: An opportunity to prepare for upcoming years where research and writing scientifically becomes so important.
- Functional Anatomy: An introduction to a subject that is central to the work of a physiotherapist! It?s a lot of information but learning it with friends is a great way to remember it all.
- Sport, Exercise, & Health Psychology: This module enables you to develop an appreciation for the individuality of each patient you? ll encounter, and the effect of their psychology ultimately on their perception of care.
- Clinical & Exercise Biochemistry: An in-depth introduction into the metabolismand biochemistry within the world of exercise, health, and disease.
- Human Physiology & Exercise: An introduction to the basics of the major bodily systems, and in particular the role of these systems during exercise.
Modul es
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- Becoming a Physiotherapist: This module allows you to take a more holistic view of what it is to be a physiotherapist. It also includes research hours to show the scope of specialities and topics involved in the role of a physiotherapist.
mar em
Re sits and Failing:
Reading l ist For each examyou need to get 40%to be able to pass that module. There can be some compensation between practical and written examinations (if you get under 40%in one exambut over 40%in another then one can compensate for the other). The grade boundaries: 40-49%- 3rd 50-59%- 2.2 60-69%- 2.1 71%+ - 1st Here is a list of some recommended text books. Get the books out of the library BEFORE you decide to purchase any. Best to try before you buy! - Anatomy and Human Movement: Structure and Function (Nigel Palastanga) - thisbookconcentratesmore on muscles, bones and ligaments, however the layout isdisliked by some students Gray's Anatomy for Students (Richard Drake) Gray'shasmore information on pathology - Clinically Oriented Anatomy (Keith Moore) - thisisgood for the nervoussystem - The Physiotherapist's Pocket Book: Essential Facts at Your Fingertips (Jonathan Kenyon and Karen Kenyon) - thisisa good bookfor placement
If you get under 40%for any module then you will need to come back in August to re take the papers for that module. It's not the end of the world but try to work hard throughout the year to avoid this!
king syst
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- Joint Range of Motion Assessment, Manual and Goniometric Techniques (Clarkson)
- Functional Anatomy of the Spine (Middleditch)
·Try to get involved! Both Physiosoc and Medsoc have loads of fun events and socials which are great to meet new people. Just keep an eye on socials to know what?s going on.
Reading l ist
·Have the best time ? Physio really is a fun course!
·If you sign up to the Student CSP you get a choice of an essential physio pocketbook as well as a monthly magazine to keep you up-to-date with all the latest physio news.
·The first few weeks can feel really hectic ? but don? t worry you? ll soon find a routine and workloads will suddenly seema lot more manageable!
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Top Tips:
·Make sure to ask for help if you need it! Whether that?s your peers, lecturers, academic reps, or people within Physiosoc or Medsoc.
-
Neuromusculoskeletal Examination and Assessment: A Handbook for Therapists (Nicola Petty)
Hi! I ?mRos Gor nal l ? your Medsoc Physio Rep for 22/23, that means I?mon both the Medsoc and Physiosoc committees to help physio students make the most of the opportunities that are on offer fromboth committees!
If you have been eligible for extra time and other access arrangements at school, it is highly likely you will be able to continue having these for medical school exams. Just speak to Student Services (in the Med School) as soon as you arrive and they can advise you on how to sort it out!
''I know there can be a lot of stigma around learning difficulties and it may be something worrying you about starting medical school, but trust me (as a fellow dyslexic) I have never experienced anything even remotely resembling stigma! People don't need to know any detailsand the year group is so big, no one will even notice if you?re not in the main examhall There are way more people than you think in the same position - there were about 30 of us in my year, so there is nothing to be worried about!'' - 2nd year Medical Student.
If you have failed your resit examination then there is the opportunity to appeal the result If the appeal is a success then you will be able to externally retake the examthe following year.
Struggling with Modules
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Ext r a Academic I nfor mat ion
Extenuating circumstances
There is the opportunity to apply for extenuating circumstances for some exams. If there is something that has affected/is affecting your academic process then make sure that you apply Information about this will be sent to everyone in the run up to exams.
If you don't understand a certain concept and none of your friends can get their heads around it either, then you can ask questions on the Discussion Boards on Canvas (which are regularly monitored), or email the Module Leads directly their emails will be on Canvas. They are very busy people though, so be patient when waiting for their response!
Resits and appeals
Getting extra help
You may find yourself in the situation where you have to resit one or more of your exams. This can be difficult news to take and it may come as quite a shock. It's not the end of the world but you must work hard to pass at the second opportunity. You will have more than enough time to revise again as most resits take place in August.
Med School days can sometimes be longer than the opening times of the food halls, especially if you're doing the Basic Life Support course. Make sure you plan in advance and perhaps buy a sandwich the night before to save in the fridge until the next day. ORpop into the top floor of the Duck and Scholar, it has a food bar that is open later and serves a variety of stuff fromtacos to hot dogs.
If you have money left at the end of the week on a Sunday,spend it! It will not carry over to the next week. Good things to stock up on are bread, cereal, milk and soft drinks. Or, treat yourself to a nice coffee and cake fromCosta, Starbucks or the library cafe!
Food - cat er ed meal pl an
The Burrito bar in GoCentral is AMAZING. If you're looking for somewhere that's worth spending your meal plan money then this is the place to go. Don't forget you can eat at SO many places on campus, take advantage of this! Joe's bar at the Guild is also covered and they do some great food too!
University is a huge change. Not only do you have to get used to a different way of learning but you also need to settle in to a completely new environment. Here are some great pieces of advice to help you learn to love living and learning in Birmingham.
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Living The Br ummie Life...
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Meal plan can be a godsend at times, but at other times it can be a bit of a challenge. The money can go very quickly,especially if you are drawn into getting a Costa most days! Follow these tips to make sure you make the most out of your meal plan deal If you forget your ID card you can just state your ID number - don't make a habit of it though!
Try to go down to the food halls with your flatmates, it's a good way to get to know themand can be nice to catch up with themeach night after a long day at uni! For lunch when you're at med school, MedCafe is a great option, covered by your meal plan card!
Food - sel f cat er ed
TOP TIP
Where to get recipes from - BBC Good Food Student recipe books - The 'Roasting Tin' books by Rukmini Iyer are great for one tin wonders! - TikTok and Instagram!! Accounts such as DeliciouslyElla, Bosh.tv,Mob, and Chef TomBateman are some of my favs!
Some inspiration for your meal plan:
3. Increase your vegetable: meat ratio - it's better for the environment too!
Unless your halls are in Selly Oak then trying to find a supermarket can be a challenge. So, online shopping is the way to go You do need to spend a minimumamount for free delivery but join with friends or flatmates and it'll be easy
Suddenly having to cook for yourself can be a real shock but a diet of ready meals is NOT the way to go Never underestimate the power of a hearty,flavoursome meal when you're missing home so make sure to ask your parents/grandparents for recipes of your favourite meals before you arrive!
6. Paella: Not a typical student meal, but super easy to make!
4. It's cheaper to buy in bulk so see if there are things you and your housemates could buy together!
1. Shakshuka: Cheap, easy,healthy
Some older years have put some of their favourite meals and other tips on self-catering below!
4. Curry: such a versatile dish you can use any type of meat or vegetables, combine with a pre made sauce (widely available) and you're good to go!
1. Cook more! Microwave meals and takeaways are much more expensive!
Toilet rools, cleaning products, milk, etc... are often the kind of thing you can do this with!
3. Chilli: All you need is mince (or lots of veggies) and chopped tomatoes, plus however many spices you want!
Make big batches whenever you can, portion themup into individual tubs and store themin the freezer. This not only saves you time cooking multiple meals a week, but the food will last much longer AND you'll be less likely to waste food Just make sure you properly reheat everything, especially meat, when you go to eat it!
Bread is also a great one to freeze to avoid waste!
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2 Buy supermarket own-brand - it's often hard to taste the difference with essentials like chopped tomatoes or salt
5. Lentil Dahls full of protein and healthy carbs to keep you going through long days of studying.
2. Spaghetti Bolognaise: The student classic
How To Avoid Over-Spending
62 Fruit Stalls: As you walk fromMed School to the main part of campus there is a fruit stall, it's a great place to get a few little snacks before heading back to lectures - 'Dave's Fruit and Veg Stall' is outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Monday-Friday 07:30-17:30. They only accept CASH! Wher e shoul d I shop? In Selly Oak Student Village? On Bristol Road: Aldi, Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, Seoul Plaza In Battery Park/ Selly Oakretail park: Large Sainsbury's , M&S, Iceland Food Warehouse On Prichatt's Park? On Harborne High Street: Waitrose, M&S, Iceland The Selly Oak supermarkets aren't a million miles away either! On the Vale ? Costcutter - The Vale, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3SX - The Co-OP- Templefields Square, Wheeleys Rd, Central and Eastern, BirminghamB15 2LJ - Morrison's - 30 Hagley Rd, BirminghamB15 1TR 50 In Edgbaston (e.g. Calthorpe Court) Aldi - Edgbaston, BirminghamB5 7QS Sainsbury's Local - 158-162 Alcester Rd, Moseley, BirminghamB13 8HS
63 DoctorsSurgeries The University Medical Practice 5 Pritchatts Rd, Birmingham B15 2QU Tel: 0121 687 3055 Bournbrook Varsity Medical Practice 1A Alton Rd, Birmingham B29 7DU Tel: 0121 472 0129 - And if it's really bad... Go to QE A&E, it's that big white and blue building by the med school!! Pharmacies - Cannon Hill Pharmacy - 200 Edward Road, BirminghamB12 9LY Tel: +44 121 440 0888 - Horton Pharmacy - Horton Square, Highgate, BirminghamB12 0YR Tel: +44 121 440 5163 - Lloyd's Pharmacy - Unit 2, 480 Bristol Rd, BirminghamB29 6BD Tel: 0121 472 0155 Dentists - Edgbaston Dental Centre, 127 Pershore Road, Edgbaston, BirminghamB5 7NX Tel:+441214402751 (near The Vale and Prichatt's) Kassamand Parmar, 320 Pershore Road, Edgbaston, BirminghamB5 7QY Tel: +44 121 440 1463 (near Liberty Court and Selly Oak village) University Practice is closest to Med School - emergency appointments are available if you call at 08:45 or 13:45they go quickly so call on time! What if I 'mIl l?
Kimchi - in Selly Oak. A nice Korean restaurant/ takeway. You might even see our lovely treasurer John working there!
Rudy's Pizza near New Street - a great place for pizza in the town centre!
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we asked the committee their favourite things to do in Birmingham...
Zumhoff Biergarten -in Digbeth, for lots of different 'street food' like options!
Rest aur ant s
The Plough in Harborne - a nice place for a date night or to take your parents. They do 2-4-1 pizzas on a Monday! Nandos in Selly Oak - you can't go wrong with a cheeky Nandos every now and then
Dilshad - An Indian restaurant in Selly Oak. Often used for committee socials!
Wor k har d,but pl hay ar der !!
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- The Kitty Cafe in the town centre - the clue's in the name lot's of cats and 'surprisingly good doughballs' Boston Tea Party - Harborne. A great place for brunch with a huge menu and loads of veggie and vegan options! Chance and CountersDigbeth. A really cute board game cafe!
Bar s and pubs Goose - Selly Oak. This is one of the go-to student pubs Circo - Selly Oak. Again, one of the go to places for students in Selly Oak. Indie Lounge - Selly Oak. They run lots of different events, including kareoke!
- CampusCosta - BournbrookStarbucks
Other local cafes we love:
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For quick coffees on campus: Wolfson Costa (on the ground floor of med school) Med Cafe basement of med school QE Costa
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- Kafenion - Bournville. It's in a lovely area and does amazing coffee and food!
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- The
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66 GETTI NGOUTDOORS - Winterborne House and Garden - Next to campus. These are beatiful gardensyou can access for free with your student ID! - BirminghamBotanical Gardens- Edgbaston - Lickey Hills just south of Birmingham. A country park with lots of nice walks! - Cannon Hill ParkEdgbaston - 'An almost perfect 5km'Fromthe Vale canal bridge to the retail park and back! St udent r un event s Med Soc hasloadsof amazing muscial/ theatre societiesthat run mnay different shows: - The ARTE muscial - this year it's Sister Act. They normally take place in November - The ChristmasConcert - lots of different med soc muscial groups come together to put on a fab concert - The Final Year Dinner show - the final years put on a comedy show that's a must see!!
Waysto manage stressful situations:
Look after yourself
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- Friends
- Don't underestimate the effect eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep can have - Medyoga is a free society within MedSoc that runs yoga sessions every week, and is a great way to unwind.
The Samaritans are free to call, 24 hours a day,365 days a year, about anything that may be getting to you Tel: 116 123
University can be a huge change fromthe workload you're used to (it was for me), but if things ever become unmanageable, there are always people that you can talk to. Starting a new course, and starting university for the first time, can be nerve-wracking, and there can be lots of other times throughout the course when things can get stressful. Hopefully some of the tips below can help with managing this, as well as giving resources for if you'd like to seek help or advice.
Who to talkto:
Try mindfulness
- Mindfulness is a way of becoming more aware of your own thoughts and feelings, as well as the world around you, making you more resilient to stressful situations, and is recommended by the BMA the easiest way to start practicing is through apps, such as Calmor Headspace
Recognise when you're feeling stressed
"It's hard but it gets better you get into the swing of things"
- Your local GP
Seeking help if you're struggling will never be looked down upon - mental health can affect everyone, and healthcare professionals nor nursing, medical, dentistry,etc students are immune Most importantly,this won't affect your ability to practice, but will instead make sure you get the support you need to make the very most out of Med School.
- PM tutor
Heal t h and Wel l being
- Student servicesat Med School
- The Guild of Studentsoffers a range of services for students who are struggling, including counselling; click the link below to see how you can get some help (https://intranet birminghamac uk/as/studentservices/projects/support/indexaspx)
It can be tempting to brush over feelings of anxiety or stress, but by noticing these times, you can manage thembetter, and know when it may be time to ask someone else for help the SAM app has a tool to help you guage your anxiety,as well as simple exercises to help relax
Look out for Stressoscopes, with a new website launching this year: they aimto create an online student support hub, showing available help and support for your health and welfare needs.
Email: listening@birminghamnightline ac uk
Suppor
Visit their website for more information.
The BMA has a well being page made specifically for health professionals, as well as information on reasonable adjustments, and lots of websites you can get support from.
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FeelBright is a campaign that has been set up by BirminghamMedical School. It aims to raise awareness of stress and depression amongst medical students and to help everyone tackle revision. It eradicates common myths that medical students hold and can make you feel far more at ease about approaching exams Take a look at this online leaflet for more information, as well as their page on Canvas, which you can find via the Curriculum and Welfare Committee page (CAWC).
By Phone: 0121 472 4616
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t
BirminghamNightline is a confidential support and information service run by students at the University of Birmingham. They will listen and support you as you talk through whatever's on your mind. Remember, everything is confidential, and you don't have even to talk on the phone: you can drop in, online chat or email too.
MOST USEFUL TI P.... Do NOT forget your ID card!
Course: MedSoc Appreciation
If you forget your ID card then you won't be able to swipe into Med School. You will have to visit the Security desk and prove that you are a member of the college (by logging into Canvas on your phone).
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Course End: NEVER!
Mr FRESHER KEEN
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You only have TWO opportunities to forget your card so make sure you know where it is AT ALL TIMES! It can be a real pain if you lose it! (If you do, you can get a new one for £10 at the student hub on campus)
